Apparatus for illuminating clock dials and the like



1934- J, w. HOBBS 1,941,553

APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATING CLOCK DIALS AND THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1934. J. w. HOBBS 1,941,553

APPARATUS FOR l LLUMlNATlNG CLOCK DIALS AND THE LIKE Filed July 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR ILLUBHNA'IING cnocx DIALS AND THE LIKE John W. Hobbs, Chicago. 111., aseignor to George W. Borg Corporation, tion of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application July 13, 1931. Serial No. 550,421

2Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for illuminating clock dials and the like and is particularly directed to means for indirectly lighting such dials or similar surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for illuminating clock dials and the like, which apparatus is simple in construction, efiicient in use and economical to manufacture.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the provision of means for illuminating clock dials and similar surfaces by diffused light caused by the utilization of a glass plate over such dial or surface and the provision oflight means arranged and associated with the glass plate so 16 that an edge portion of the plate is subjected to the light source resulting in a pleasing diffused illumination without shadows.

The invention further contemplates apparatus whereby the clock dial or similar surface is proso tected by a glass plate with the plate so shielded or masked from a light source as to be exposed to such light source only by an edge portion of the plate, whereby diffused illumination may readily result.

The above, other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the form of apparatus chosen to exemplify the present invention and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a front view of a conventional clock provided with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the instrument board of a motor vehicle including as a part thereof a clock provided with the present invention.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a clock embodying the present invention and adapted for securement to the steering post of a motor vehicle.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the clock of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a clock casing and dial, with the finishing cover removed, showing certain details of construction.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmcntal sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line VIVI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a clock casing and dial and embodying the present invention, Figure 7 illustratlng further one form of switch mechanism for 55, actuating the light bulb.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a clock casing provided with a.clock dial embodying the present invention, with parts broken away and parts in section, showing certain details of construction.

The present invention is applicable to any kind of clock dial or similar surface of the character where it is desired at times to illuminate such surface for purposes well understood.

It is especially desirable in connection with clock dials and other surfaces to be illuminated and used on motor vehicles that the light be nonglaring and yet of suflicient intensity'to clearly illuminate the particular surface in question.

It is further desirable that clock dials and similar surfaces be illuminated with a diffused light so as not to interfere with the operation of a motor vehicle when such dial or surface is utilized as a part of the equipment of such vehicle.

The drawings will now be explained.

The clock mechanism forms no part of the present invention and consequently is not illustrated.

'A casing 1 illustrated herein as cylindrical is provided with the usual clock mechanism, not shown, and a dial 2. The dial is shown as a modified ellipse although the form and shape of the dial forms no part of the present invention and a dial of any shape or character may be utilized.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the dial 2 is superimposed on a partition 3 suitably secured within the casing l and is disposed below the upper margin 4 of such casing.

The dial 2, of whatever shape, is surrounded by a wall or partition 5 which in contour is that of the visible portion of the dial. The wall 5 is opaque and about its upper margin is provided with a flange 6 extending thereabout for supporting thereon a glass plate 7. The flange 8 is: provided at intervals with lugs 8 which are bent over the plate '7 after the same is applied to the wall 5 for securing these parts together.

The edge portion of the glass plate 7 is beveled as at 9 for a purpose to be later explained.

The wall member 5 when applied about the dial 2 is preferably spaced from the inner surface of the upper portion of the casing 1, thus forming a space between the wall 5 and the casing 1. The inner surface of this space indicated at 10 is preferably painted with white paint or similar material to provide a reflecting surface.

A cover plate 11 bridges the space between the wall 5 and the casing 1 and serves as aflnish for Q the clock. This cover plate 11 has a centrally disposed opening 12 to conform to the contour of the wall and the dial 2 and about this opening a bead 13 is fashioned for appearances sake 5 while an outer bead 141s fashioned about the outer margin of the cover member 11 with a skirt portion 15 extending downwardly over the upper margin 4 of the casing 1 whereby the cover member 11 may be fastened to the casing 1 by screws or like attaching means. When the cover member 11 is applied the bead 13 bears tightly against the glass plate '1. A gasket may be interposed about the margin of the glass plate 7 and the head 13 for excluding dirt and moisture from the dial of the clock.

The source of illumination is illustrated as consisting of an electric bulb A which engages a screw socket 16 disposed within the casing 1. The bulb A has applied to it a coating of opaque material so that the light rays will not pass outwardly of the side portions of the bulb but will concentrated to pass through the transparent end 17 of the bulb. In other words, the bulb A is so arranged that light emission is through the end 17, that is, directed upwardly as the parts are illustrated.

The bulb A is put into and out of electrical circuit by means of a spindle 18 actuated by a thumb nut 19 which spindle is provided with a switch member 20 movable into and out of connection with the socket 16. The member 20 when moved into engagement with the socket 16 establishes electric circuit through the bulb A thus lighting it for illuminating purposes.

The bulb A is so mounted in the casing as to lie underneath or below the partition 3 so that but the transparent end 17 extends above the partition 3. The bulb A lies within the space between the wall 5 and the clock casing 1.

The bevel edge portion 9 of the glass plate '7 slopes downwardly and inwardly with the bevel surface roughened and unpolished.

Figure 6 illustrates the gasket 21 interposed on top of the glass plate 7 and underlying the lugs 8 and also underlying the bead 13 of the cover member 11. I

It will be observed that the source of light is the bulb A so arranged and disposed as to illuminate the space between the inner wall of the casing 1 and thewall 5 about the dial 2. This space, therefore, becomes the zone of light, which light passes through the beveled edge 9 of the glass plate 7 and because of the utilization of the beveled edge portion of the glass, the light is diffused through the plate 7 over the dial 2 thus illuminating it.

The utilization ofthe wall 5 and cover member 11 screens or masks the glass plate '7 from the light source in every respect except through the edge portion of the glass. The result is that a diffused pleasing light illuminates the dial 2 without glare and without excessive brightness, thus creating a light which may be readily lit during operation of a motor vehicle without confusing the driver in his operation of the vehicle.

Figures 1 to 4 inclusive show various arrangements of clocks, all of which are provided with the indirect lighting apparatus of the present invention and all of which embody the method of indirect illumination of the present invention.

When it is desired to illuminate the dial 2, the operator turns the handle 19 closing electrical contact between the socket 16 and the member 20 whereupon the bulb is lit and the light passing through the transparent end 17 of the same illuminates the adjacent end portion of the glass '7 diffusing the light through thisglass and onto the dial 2. The painting 10 of the inner surface of the wall of the casing 1 serves as a reflector for the light from the bulb A, thus increasing the efficiency of the illuminating means and enabling the use of a bulb of low voltage.

The clock casing 1 of Figure 3 is attached to the steering post 22 of a motor vehicle by means of a strap clamp 23 which surrounds the post and which is attached by means of a bolt 24 passing through clamping members 25 to tighten the strap 23 about the post 22 and the clock casing 1.

Figure 2 illustrates the clock provided with illuminating means of the present invention incorporated in an instrument board panel 25 where the operation of the clock is the same as heretofore described. 7

The gist of the present invention contemplates the utilization of a glass overlying a clock dial or other surface and screening or masking such glass with respect to a source of light so that the light enters the glass at the edge portion of the same for creating a diffused illumination. It has been found that provision of the bevel 9 increases the illumination of the diffused light rays whereby successful illumination of the clock dials and similar surfaces may be readily accom plished.

In order to center the wall 5 and its flange 6 within the clock casing, the casing may be provided with recesses 26 and the wall member 5 with lugs 27 for entering said recesses. Thus the wall member 5 is properly centered with respect to the dial 2 when the parts are assembled.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely, as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. Means for illuminating a clock dial or the like, said means comprising a transparent plate supported above the dial, said plate having a downwardly and inwardly inclined beveled and roughened peripheral edge, an artificial light source, and means to limit light from said source relative to said plate to only the peripheral edge of the plate. I

2. Means for illuminating a clock dial or the like, said means comprising a transparent plate supported above the dial, said plate having a substantially exposed peripheral edge, an artificial light source, means cooperable with said light source to direct diifused light to substantially the whole of the peripheral edge, and means to limit light from said source relative to the plate to only the peripheral edge of the plate.

JOHN W; HOBBS. 

